Nut-locking washer.



PATENTED MAY 19, 1903.

L. T. STEPHENSON; NUT LOOKING WASHER,-

' APPLICATION FILED DEG. 20, 1902.

No MODEL.

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'z'szaviw w Lew w 0 o M W w UNITED STATES I Patented May 19, 1903} PATENT OFFICE.

LEVI T. STEPHENSON, or TRINIDAD, COLORADO, AssIeNO or THREE- FOURTHS TO 'OLA .,.IORNDT AND EFFIE .L. STEPHENSON, or KAN- sAs C TY, KANSAS, AND CORAL e. JORNDT, OF SA FRANCISCO,

CALIFORNIA.

N UT-LOCKING WASH ER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart'of Letters latent No. 728,323, dated May 19, 1903. Application filed December 29,1902. stain No. 135,990. on model-l To a. whom it may concern: Be it known that I, LEVI T. STEPHENSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Trinidad, in the county of Las Animas and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Nut-Locking Washer, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relatesto nut-locks of that character which employ a locking-tongue se cured to a base or washer and arranged to engage a nut to prevent its turning.

The object is to provide a very simple structure of this character wherein the locking-tongue is housed and protected, being also held against accidental displacement, the means for accomplishing these purposes also serving as a bearing for a tool in moving the tongue to an inoperative positio'nwith relation-to the nut. 1

One and the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated'inthe accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of arail-joint, showing the lock applied to one of the bolts thereof. Fig. 2'is a vertical transverse sectional View through the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal longitudinal section. taken on the line 00 a: of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the lock. Similar reference-numerals indicate corresponding parts in all the figures'of the drawings. In the embodiment herewith illustrated a base or washer 5 is employed having the usual bolt-receiving opening 6 therethrough. This washer is preferably angular in form and is provided atone edge with a hood formed by an outstanding side wall 7 and an overhanging wall 8. An intermediate portion of the hood is cutaway, as shown at 9, and said hood preferably tapers toward one end, as shown more clearly inFig. 3. Arranged within this hood-is a'locking-tongue 11, that extends across the cut-out portion, one end of the tongue fitting snugly within the smaller end of the hood and being secured by a rivet 12, that passes through the overhanging wall, the tongue,and the washer. This tongue is formed of spring metal and disposed at the upper edge, as shown.

not 17, of any desirable form, isthen screwed its free end bears against the under face of the outer end of .the overhanging wall 8.

i The rear edge of the tongue is arranged conthe out so that it will rest againstthe adjacent fish-plate, and. the hood is preferably upon the bolt, and during its rotationthe corners thereof will pass throughthe cut-out portion of the hood," pressing downwardly upon the locking;tongue, which will spring back'to place as each "corner passes ontof said cut-out portion. Thus the 'nut will be held against retrograde movement. lease the same it is only necessary to insert .a wedge-tool between the overhanging'wall and the free end of the tongue, whereupon said tongue will be moved against the baseplate or washer, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, whereupon the nut may be turned backwardly as will be readily understood.

' It will-be evident that this lock is very simformed of a single piece of sheet metal and the tongue being readily secured in the man- To reple, the base or washer and the hood being nor shown and described. The arrangement of this tongue within the hood is advanta-' geous in several ways. In the first place, it is housed and protected to a great extent from the elements and it cannot be readily struck in an accidental manner. By having the rear edge located contiguous to the outstanding wall and thennt bearing against the front edge it will be evident that saidoutstanding wall prevents the displacement of the tongue should abnormal strain; be brought against it by the accidental retrograde movement of the nut. The overhanging wall also serves as a bearing for the tool in moving the tongue to an inoperative position, and thus three distinct functions are performed by the single hood in connection with the tongue described.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is v 1. In a nut-lock, the combination with a washer having a hood overhanging its outer face, of an outwardly-springing tongue secured Within the hood and having a portion normally spaced from the washer, said tongue being pressed inwardly toward the washer upon the passage of the nut thereover.

2. In a nut-lock, the combination with a washer having an outstanding side wall, of a spring locking-tongue secured at one end to the washer, the other end being free and movable toward and from the washer, one of the edges of the tongue being arranged to engage a nut to prevent the same turning, the opposite edge being disposed contiguous to the wall against which it is arranged to bear to prevent lateral displacement of said tongue.

3. In a nut-lock, the combination with a washer having an outstanding hood at one edge, of a spring locking-tongue secured at one end to the washer and arranged within the hood, said tongue being arranged to swing within the hood toward and from the washer.

4. In a nut-lock, the combination with a washer having an outstanding hood at one edge, said hood having an intermediate portion cut away, and a spring locking-tongue secured in the hood at one side of and extending across the cut-out portion, the portion of said tongue extending across the cutout portion of the hood, being movable toward and from the washer to permit a nut moving thereover.

5. In a nut-lock, the combination with a washer having an outstanding hood at one edge that overhangs the washer, said hood having an intermediate portion cut away, a spring locking-tongue arranged within the hood and extending across the cut-away portion, said tongue being movable toward and from the washer, and a fastening device passing through the overhanging wall of the hood, the tongue and the washer to secure the tongue in place.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LEVI T. STEPHENSOI Witnesses:

E. D. LINDSAY, O. H. BANCROFT. 

